DBT skills groups for Veterans at high risk of suicide
Official title: A Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Multisite Trial of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group for Veterans at High-Risk for Suicide Attempt
Funded at VA Connecticut Healthcare System · NIH-11222649 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program offers group-based dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training for Veterans at high risk of suicide to help reduce suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Connecticut Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Haven, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2021 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003249-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11222649 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans receiving care at participating VA medical centers who are identified as high risk for suicide and who can attend group psychotherapy are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans with low suicide risk, those who cannot attend group sessions, or those who require more intensive individual DBT or inpatient care may not benefit from this group-based program.
What this research studies
You would be invited to join a group-delivered DBT skills program that teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. The project runs at multiple VA sites and enrolls Veterans identified as high suicide risk, using VA risk-identification processes like REACH VET. Researchers will compare outcomes such as suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, and emotion regulation while also studying how clinics put the groups into practice and what helps or gets in the way of offering them widely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower suicide attempts and improve emotion regulation for high-risk Veterans and help make DBT skills groups more available across VA clinics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous VA and non-VA studies of DBT skills groups have shown reduced suicidal ideation and better emotion regulation, and some non-VA trials matched full DBT in lowering attempts, though multisite implementation across VA settings is less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Decker, Suzanne Elizabeth — VA Connecticut Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Decker, Suzanne Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding warning signs to predict near-term suicide risk in hospitalized adults
This project looks at warning signs that may indicate someone in the hospital after a suicide attempt is at imminent risk, with the goal of guiding decisions in emergency care.
-
Immediate warning signs in the day after a suicide attempt for hospitalized adults
This work looks for short-term warning signs in adults hospitalized after a suicide attempt by asking them to tell their story and analyzing their words and responses.
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A therapy group to help veterans at high risk for suicide manage their emotions.
This study is looking at how a special group therapy called Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group can help veterans who are at risk for suicide by teaching them ways to manage their emotions better, which could help reduce their suicidal thoughts and actions.
-
Testing a brief intervention for people who have recently attempted suicide
This study is looking at how well a short program called ASSIP can help people who have recently tried to take their own lives, by offering three supportive sessions to reduce the chances of future attempts, and it's designed to be easy to access in community mental health settings.
-
Understanding Invisible Suicide Risks in Youth: A National Study in Guyana
A nationwide study in Guyana aims to learn about hidden factors that contribute to suicide risk among young people so we can prevent tragedy.
-
Mobile safety planning for at-risk young adults
A digital, text-based safety planning program for young adults (ages 18–24) to help prevent suicide and stay connected to support.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.